WHAT NEXT?

Stratford Evening Post, Volume IV, Issue 107, 16 April 1936, Page 7

WHAT NEXT?

Changes That Will Come In Theatre World. (By Darryl F. Zanuck). The writer of this article, Darryl F. Zanuck, stands pre-eminent as Hollywood's greatest genius of production. Now only 28 years of. age, he numbers amongst his successes lilmgi Which have been 20th Century's greatest money-makers. His efforts for Fox Film Corporation, Ltd., and 20th Century, stand supreme in the iield in which he has attained such

importance in so few years. His ideas: modern and far sighted must be credited. 'The story Tarn to tell you is one in which detailed prophecy would be impossible. The best 1 can do ie to give a conservative surmise. When I realise that ten years ago, the greatest brains; in the industry laughed at the pre?umpLious' idea of sound on films, I wonder what i dare, to predict may come in the next quarter century. ' • '— Many of us, realising the inevitable advent of television have'thought 1 that ir- 2 years' time, theatres will ho a thing of the past.-Television will be here in five years but it is impossible, that it should overpower the theatres! Despite any invention that may come in the next quarter of a century the psychology of people is such that in order to enjoy fhe/insclvcs they nnn-t leave the home circle and congregate in a community and enjoy entertainment in groups. Technically, it, is a far different matter. There will ho tremendous changes', but ho individual can definitely predict with.dertainty. I believe that in a few years, not more than. 7.5, a televised talking motion picture will be in every home. But, the point is this, it will not affect the theatre. It, will merely take the place of the radio as l a home pastime. Another development which we may expect in (lie near future is that of colour films. Technicolour has al-. ready come close to true colour but it

is by no means perfect. Colour will be universal, If tit all, on the screens in the next five years. 'Another serious question which, much debated at present, must crystallise in the nearby future, is that of i'depth" in pictures. . Variously called "third di" momion" this is something over which gciontista have been worrying'. for years. Some doubt has been ex-

I pressed whether or not motion pictures could assimilate all these changes. I, for one, believe that they can. Did not sound, necessitating l new machines, theatres oftentimes, T;C.\y screens, become universal withj in a year. Theorists can imagine many future possibilities*. A double sound track for instance. It is not at all unlikely that these as well agi oilier revolution- . ary changes wil] become part and parcel of the motion picture industry." /